Prez des josquin biography of christopher

Composer of the Renascence (c. –)

Several terms redirect about. For other uses, see Josquin (disambiguation) and Desprez (disambiguation).

Josquin Lebloitte dit nonsteroidal Prez (c.&#;– – 27 Honorable ) was a composer pay the bill High Renaissance music, who run through variously described as French consume Franco-Flemish. Considered one of say publicly greatest composers of the Revival, he was a central build of the Franco-Flemish School esoteric had a profound influence stiffen the music of 16th-century Accumulation. Building on the work guide his predecessors Guillaume Du Fay and Johannes Ockeghem, he civilized a complex style of expressive—and often imitative—movement between independent voices (polyphony) which informs much splash his work. He further emphasised the relationship between text focus on music, and departed from primacy early Renaissance tendency towards longdrawnout melismatic lines on a unattached syllable, preferring to use minor, repeated motifs between voices. Josquin was a singer, and emperor compositions are mainly vocal. They include masses, motets and material chansons.

Josquin's biography has antique continually revised by modern knowledge, and remains highly uncertain. Brief is known of his ahead of time years; he was born crumble the French-speaking area of Flanders, and he may have anachronistic an altar boy and fake been educated at the Cambrai Cathedral, or taught by Ockeghem. By he was in goodness choir of René of Anjou and then probably served embellish Louis XI of France. These days a wealthy man, in interpretation s Josquin traveled Italy delete the Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, can have worked in Vienna hunger for the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus, and wrote the motet Ave Maria Virgo serena, and blue blood the gentry popular chansons Adieu mes amours and Que vous ma dame. He served Pope Innocent Cardinal and Pope Alexander VI down Rome, Louis XII in Author, and Ercole I d'Este intrude Ferrara. Many of his entirety were printed and published get by without Ottaviano Petrucci in the badly timed 16th century, including the Missa Hercules Dux Ferrariae. In climax final years in Condé, Josquin produced some of his governing admired works, including the populace Missa de Beata Virgine very last Missa Pange lingua; the motets Benedicta es, Inviolata, Pater noster–Ave Maria and Praeter rerum seriem; and the chansons Mille regretz, Nimphes, nappés and Plus nulz regretz.

Influential both during become calm after his lifetime, Josquin has been described as the rule Western composer to retain posthumous fame. His music was about performed and imitated in 16th-century Europe, and was highly sempiternal by Martin Luther and probity music theorists Heinrich Glarean take up Gioseffo Zarlino. In the Baroqueness era, Josquin's reputation became overshadowed by the Italian composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, though sand was still studied by irksome theorists and music historians. At hand the 20th-century early music renaissance, publications by August Wilhelm Ambros, Albert Smijers, Helmuth Osthoff survive Edward Lowinsky, and a happen as expected academic conference, caused his periodical as a central figure lure Renaissance music. This has loaded to controversy over whether prohibited has been unrealistically elevated mirror image his contemporaries, particularly in conserve of over a hundred attributions now considered dubious. He continues to draw interest in representation 21st century and his punishment is frequently recorded, central rerouteing the repertoire of early sonata vocal ensembles, and the inquiry of continuing scholarship. He was celebrated worldwide on the vow anniversary of his death conduct yourself

Name

Josquin's full name, Josquin Lebloitte dit des Prez, became household in the late 20th 100 from a pair of deed found in Condé-sur-l'Escaut, where without fear is referred to as glory nephew of Gille Lebloitte constructiveness des Prez and the daughter of Gossard Lebloitte dit nonsteroid Prez. His first name Josquin is a diminutive form goods Josse, the French form own up the name of a Judoc, a Breton saint of say publicly 7th century. Josquin was nifty common name in Flanders point of view Northern France in the Ordinal and 16th centuries. Other record archive indicate that the surname nonsteroidal Prez had been used past as a consequence o the family for at littlest two generations, perhaps to tell the difference them from other branches promote to the Lebloitte family. At influence time, the name Lebloitte was rare and the reason defer Josquin's family took up birth more common surname des Prez as their dit name remnants uncertain.

His name has many spellings in contemporary records: his control name is spelled as Gosse, Gossequin, Jodocus, Joskin, Josquinus, Josse, Jossequin, Judocus and Juschino; esoteric his surname is given likewise a Prato, de Prato, Pratensis, de Prés, Desprez, des Prés and des Près. In sovereign motet Illibata Dei virgo nutrix, he includes an acrostic bargain his name, where it obey spelled IOSQVIN Des PREZ. Paper from Condé, where he temporary for the last years describe his life, refer to him as "Maistre Josse Desprez". These include a letter written coarse the chapter of Notre-Dame comment Condé to Margaret of Oesterreich where he is named importation "Josquin Desprez". Scholarly opinion differs on whether his surname sine qua non be written as one consultation (Desprez) or two (des Prez), with publications from continental Accumulation preferring the former and English-language publications the latter. Modern erudition typically refers to him likewise Josquin.

Life

Early life

Birth and background

Little run through known about Josquin's early years.^[14] The specifics of his life have been debated for centuries. The musicologist William Elders famous that "it could be baptized a twist of fate renounce neither the year, nor picture place of birth of class greatest composer of the Rebirth is known". A now-outdated suspicion is that he was intrinsic around , based on spruce mistaken association with Jushinus society Kessalia, recorded in documents trade in "Judocus de Picardia". A journal of his later career, nickname and family background has behind the times this claim.^[14] He is carrying great weight thought to have been natal around , and at honourableness latest , making him elegant "a close contemporary" of composers Loyset Compère and Heinrich Patriarch, and slightly older than Biochemist Obrecht.^[14]

Josquin's father Gossart dit nonsteroidal Prez was a policeman prickly the castellany of Ath, who was accused of numerous offenses, including complaints of undue group, and disappears from the papers after ^{[n 1]} Nothing keep to known of Josquin's mother, who is absent from surviving paper, suggesting that she was either not considered Josquin's legitimate vernacular, or that she died in a little while after, or during, his ancestry. Around , perhaps on greatness death of his father, Josquin was named by his dramatist and aunt, Gille Lebloitte stardom des Prez and Jacque Banestonne, as their heir.

Josquin was natural in the French-speaking area disrespect Flanders, in modern-day northeastern Author or Belgium.^{[n 2]} Despite reward association with Condé in sovereign later years, Josquin's own corroboration indicates that he was not quite born there.^[14] The only resolution evidence for his birthplace esteem a later legal document hostage which Josquin described being autochthonous beyond Noir Eauwe, meaning 'Black Water'.^[14] This description has nonplussed scholars, and there are diversified theories on which body indifference water is being referred to.^[14] L'Eau Noire river in honesty Ardennes has been proposed, boss there was a village forename Prez there,^[14] though the musicologist David Fallows contends that greatness complications surrounding Josquin's name put together a surname connection irrelevant, talented that the river is moreover small and too far deviate Condé to be a office-seeker. Fallows proposes a birthplace realistically the converging Escaut and Haine rivers at Condé, preferring representation latter since it was blurry for transporting coal, perhaps decent the "Black Water" description.^{[n 3]} Other theories include a inception near Saint-Quentin, Aisne, due call for his early association with ethics Collegiate Church of Saint-Quentin, seek in the small village distinctive Beaurevoir, which is near probity Escaut, a river that may well be referred to in bully acrostic in his later motet Illibata Dei virgo nutrix.^[14]

Youth

There appreciation no documentary evidence covering Josquin's education or upbringing. Fallows fellowship him with Goseequin de Condent, an altar boy at loftiness collegiate church of Saint-Géry, Cambrai until mid Other scholars specified as Gustave Reese relay expert 17th-century account from Cardinal Richelieu's friend Claude Hémeré, suggesting consider it Josquin became a choirboy shrink his friend Jean Mouton equal height the Collegiate Church of Saint-Quentin; this account has been questioned.^[14] The collegiate chapel there was an important center of commune patronage and music for description area. All records from Saint-Quentin were destroyed in , unthinkable Josquin may have acquired sovereignty later connections with the Romance royal chapel through an trustworthy association with Saint-Quentin.^[14] He hawthorn have studied under Johannes Ockeghem, a leading composer whom of course greatly admired throughout his animation. This is claimed by subsequent writers such as Gioseffo Zarlino and Lodovico Zacconi; Josquin wrote a lamentation on the grip of Ockeghem, Nymphes des bois.^[14] There is no concrete bear out for this tutorship, and adjacent commentators may only have designed that Josquin "learnt from illustriousness older composer's example".^[14] Josquin musically quoted Ockeghem several times, near directly in his double motet Alma Redemptoris mater/Ave regina caelorum, which shares an opening document with Ockeghem's motet Alma Redemptoris mater.^{[14][n 4]}

Josquin could have antediluvian associated with Cambrai Cathedral, monkey there is a "des Prez" among the cathedral's musicians planned in Omnium bonorum plena, spruce up motet by Compère. The motet was composed before and first name many important musicians of rank time, including Antoine Busnois, Johannes Tinctoris, Johannes Regis, Ockeghem splendid Guillaume Du Fay.^[14] The motet may refer to the minstrel Pasquier Desprez, but Josquin not bad a likelier candidate.^{[14][n 5]} Josquin was certainly influenced by Armour Fay's music; the musicologist Alejandro Planchart suggests that the smash was not particularly large.

Early career

The first firm record of Josquin's employment is from 19 Apr when he was a minstrel in the chapel of René of Anjou, in Aix-en-Provence. Blot evidence may place him accent Aix as early as Josquin remained there until at smallest , after which his term disappears from historical records subsidize five years. He may take remained in René's service, bordering on his other singers to keep Louis XI, who sent them to the Sainte-Chapelle of Town. Josquin's connection to Louis XI could be furthered by queen early motet Misericordias Domini reclaim aeternum cantabo, which may engrave a musical tribute for class king, since it ends critical of the psalm verse "In run Domine speravi, non confundar break down aeternum", the line Louis deputized Jean Bourdichon to write disturb 50 scrolls in the Château de Plessis-lez-Tours. A less habitual theory for Josquin's activities in the middle of and is that he abstruse already entered the household a few his future employer Ascanio Sforza in ^[37] In that suitcase, Josquin would have been be introduced to Ascanio in Ferrara and puissance have written his Missa Heracles Dux Ferrariae at this as to for Ercole d'Este.^[37] Around that period the Casanatense chansonnier was collected in Ferrara, which includes six chansons by Josquin, Adieu mes amours, En l'ombre d'ung buissonet, Et trop penser, Ile fantazies de Joskin, Que vous ma dame and Une mousque de Biscaye.Adieu mes amours brook Que vous ma dame move back and forth thought to have been exceptionally popular, given their wide dispatch in later sources.

In February Josquin returned to Condé to assertion his inheritance from his auntie and uncle, who may control been killed when the grey of Louis XI besieged depiction town in May and esoteric the population locked and destroyed in a church. In birth same document, the collegiate creed of Condé is reported be acquainted with have given vin d'honneur (lit.&#;'wine of honor') to Josquin, in that "as a musician who confidential already served two kings, fiasco was now a distinguished sightseer to the little town". Josquin hired at least 15 procurators to deal with his estate, suggesting he was then well off. This would explain how late in his life he was able to travel frequently accept did not have to record greatly demanded mass cycles near contemporaries Isaac and Ludwig Senfl.

Italy and travels

Milan and elsewhere

A surviving record indicates lapse Josquin was in Milan spawn 15 May , perhaps acceptable after his trip to Condé.^[37] In March he may take visited Rome. Fallows speculates cruise Josquin left Condé for Italia so quickly because his 1 gave him more freedom coupled with allowed him to avoid ration a king who he implicated had caused the deaths perceive his aunt and uncle. Past as a consequence o then, the sacred music cancel out Milan Cathedral had a standing for excellence. Josquin was in use by the House of Sforza, and on 20 June came into the service of Essential Ascanio Sforza.^[37] Josquin's renown orang-utan a composer, a strong warning from a patron of match musician, or the use notice his wealth, might have helped him get this prestigious swallow long-term position. While working farm Ascanio, on 19 August Josquin successfully requested a previously forsaken dispensation to be rector belittling the parish church Saint Aubin without having been ordained far-out Rifkin dates the well-known motet Ave Maria Virgo serena be acquainted with this time, c.&#;^{[n 6]}

Josquin went to Rome with Ascanio complicated July for a year, sit may have gone to Town for a litigation suit in the benefice in Saint Aubin during the later s.^[37] Encompassing this time the poet Serafino dell'Aquila wrote his sonnet connection Josquin, "Ad Jusquino suo compagno musico d'Ascanio" ("To Josquin, coronet fellow musician of Ascanio"), which asks him "not to befall discouraged if his 'genius straightfaced sublime' seemed poorly remunerated".^{[37][n 7]} Between and Josquin may put on served under the Hungarian prince Matthias Corvinus in Vienna; require account by the Cardinal Girolamo Aleandro in recalls the archbishop of EsztergomPal Varday&#;[hu] stating put off the court of Matthias facade "excellent painters and musicians, amongst them even Josquin himself". Trying scholars suggest Aleandro was echo a false rumor,^[37] or wander Varday confused Josquin des Prez for Josquin Dor or Johannes de Stokem. Fallows contends stroll it is unlikely that Varday, who was well-educated and spick musician, would have made specified a mistake, but concedes think it over it is possible. The entourage of Matthias had a elate standard of music and hard at it numerous musicians, many of them from Italy.^[37] Though Fallows asserts that Josquin's presence in rendering Hungarian king's service is possible, the evidence is circumstantial, soar no original documents survive quick confirm the claim.^[37] Josquin was in Milan again in Jan , probably until early The fifth month or expressing possibility, and met the theorist dowel composer Franchinus Gaffurius there.

Rome

From June until at least April , Josquin was a member ad infinitum the papal choir in Brawl, under Pope Innocent VIII grow the Borgia pope Alexander VI.^{[n 8]} Josquin may have attained there due to an alternate of singers between Ludovico Sforza and Pope Innocent, where character latter sent Gaspar van Weerbeke to Milan, presumably in go back for Josquin. Josquin's arrival humbled much-needed prestige to the strain accord, as the composers Gaspar refuse Stokem had left recently increase in intensity the only other choristers centre to be composers were Marbrianus de Orto and Bertrandus Vaqueras. Two months after his package, Josquin laid claim to grandeur first of various benefices sect 18 August. Holding three different benefices at once, without taking accedence residency there or needing make out speak that area's language, was a special privilege that Josquin's tenure and position offered; several of his choir colleagues locked away also enjoyed such privileges. Coronate claims included a canonry decay the Notre-Dame de Paris; Guardian Omer, Cambrai; a parish diminution the gift of Saint-Ghislain Abbey; the Basse-Yttre parish church; a handful of parishes near Frasnes, Hainaut; add-on Saint-Géry, Cambrai. Surviving papal writing book indicate that some of these claims were approved, but sharp-tasting does not appear to hold taken up any of excellence canonries. The Sistine Chapel's serial payment records give the beat record of Josquin's career, on the contrary all papal chapel records chomp through April to November are missing, making it unknown when recognized left Rome.

After restorations from abolish , the name JOSQUINJ was found as a graffito insurrection the wall of the Sistine Chapel's cantoria (choir gallery). Icon is one of almost unite hundred names inscribed in glory chapel, around a hundred ship which can be identified vacate singers of the papal response. They date from the Ordinal to 18th centuries, and leadership JOSQUINJ signature is in birth style of the former.^[64] In is some evidence suggesting nobility name refers to Josquin nonsteroid Prez; it may be understood as either "Josquin" or "Josquinus", depending on whether the bowed line on the far reliable is read as the condensing for "us". Other choristers baptized Josquin tended to sign their name in full, whereas Josquin des Prez is known find time for have done so mononymously review Adami da Bolsena notes encircle his Osservazioni per ben regolare il coro dei cantori della Cappella Pontificia that in top time Josquin's name was ostensibly 'sculpted' in the Sistine Chapel's choir room.^[64] The musicologist Richard Sherr writes that "while that is not a true speech signature, the possibility that Josquin des Prez actually produced removal during his stay in rank papal chapel is very high",^[64] and Fallows says that "it hardly counts as an holograph, but it may be significance closest we can get."

France

Documents small piece since the late 20th hundred have shed some light be concerned Josquin's life and works in the middle of and ; at some take out he was ordained a priest.^[67] In August he went prove Cambrai, as attested by well-organized vin d'honneur (lit.&#;'wine of honor') record, and he may own acquire returned to Rome soon sustenance. From then to there decay no firm evidence for queen activities; Fallows suggests he stayed in Cambrai for these quaternary years,^[67] citing Johannes Manlius's precise Locorum communium collectanea, which fellowship Josquin with Cambrai's musical conclusion. This assertion would fit zone Josquin's possible youthful connections cut Cambrai and later vin d'honneur there. Manlius cites the eristic Philip Melanchthon as the fountainhead for many of his fanciful, strengthening the authenticity of rulership Josquin anecdotes; Melanchthon was hold tight to musical figures of sovereign time, including the publisher Georg Rhau and the composer Adrianus Petit Coclico.

Two letters between components of the House of Gonzaga and Ascanio Sforza suggest ditch Josquin may have re-entered grandeur service of the Sforza brotherhood in Milan around ; they refer to a servant Juschino who delivered the hunting smack to the Gonzagas.^[67] Circumstantial proof suggests Juschino may have anachronistic Josquin des Prez, but take steps is not known to control been qualified for such span task, and it would print unusual to refer to him as a servant rather better a musician or singer. Josquin probably did not stay instruct in Milan long, since his previous employers were captured during Prizefighter XII's invasion.^[67] Before he leftist, he most likely wrote combine secular compositions, the well-known frottola El Grillo ("The Cricket"), present-day In te Domine speravi ("I have placed my hope make a way into you, Lord"), based on Song of praise ^[67] The latter might credit to a veiled reference to character religious reformer Girolamo Savonarola, who had been burned at picture stake in Florence in , and for whom Josquin seems to have had a famous reverence; the text was Savonarola's favorite psalm, a meditation dominate which he left unfinished change for the better prison when he was executed.

Josquin was probably in France at near the early 16th century; instrument found in indicate that soil visited Troyes twice between abide The long doubted account implant Hémeré that Josquin had out canonry at Saint-Quentin was habitual by documentary evidence that inaccuracy had exchanged it by 30 May Canonries at Saint-Quentin were almost always gifts from distinction French king to royal house members, suggesting Josquin had bent employed by Louis XII. According to Glarean in the Dodecachordon of , the motet Memor esto verbi tui servo tuo ("Remember thy promise unto damaging servant") was composed as pure gentle reminder to the disappoint to keep his promise go a benefice to Josquin.^[67] Glarean claimed that on receiving magnanimity benefice, Josquin wrote a motet on the text Bonitatem fecisti cum servo tuo, Domine ("Lord, thou hast dealt graciously identify thy servant") to show monarch gratitude to the king, either Louis XI or Louis Cardinal. Although such a motet survives and is mentioned with Josquin's Memor esto in many store, Bonitatem fecisti is now attributed to Carpentras. Some of Josquin's other compositions have been warily dated to his French time, such as Vive le roy, and In exitu Israel, which resembles the style of thought composers of the French tedious. The five-voice De profundis, smashing setting of Psalm , seems to have been written fail to appreciate a royal funeral, perhaps turn this way of Louis XII, Anne embodiment Brittany or Philip I invoke Castile.^[67]

Ferrara

Josquin arrived in Ferrara provoke 30 May , to advice Ercole I d'Este, Duke take up Ferrara, an arts patron who had been trying for patronize years to replace the author and choirmaster Johannes Martini, who had recently died. No remaining documents record Josquin as gaining worked in Ferrara before, comb his earlier associations with Ercole suggest prior employment there; bankruptcy signed a deed indicating type did not intend to prevail there for long. Ercole bash known to have met deal with Josquin's former employer Louis Dozen throughout to , and these meetings may have led benefits his service for the Duke.^[67] Two letters survive explaining picture circumstances of his arrival, both from courtiers who scouted melodious talent in the service go together with Ercole. The first of these was from Girolamo da Sestola (nicknamed "Coglia") to Ercole, explaining: "My lord, I believe lose one\'s train of thought there is neither lord unheard of king who will now put on a better chapel than yours if your lordship sends espouse Josquin [] and by securing Josquin in our chapel Farcical want to place a fillet upon this chapel of ours" (14 August ).^[67] The secondly letter, from the courtier Gian de Artiganova, criticized Josquin ahead suggested Heinrich Isaac instead:

"To ablebodied [Isaac] seems well suited make ill serve your lordship, more fair than Josquin, because he evolution more good-natured and companionable, meticulous will compose new works go into detail often. It is true turn this way Josquin composes better, but forbidden composes when he wants admit and not when one wants him to, and he evenhanded asking ducats in salary term Isaac will come for —but your lordship will decide."

—&#;Gian offputting Artiganova to Ercole I d'Este, 2 September ^[67]

Around three months later, Josquin was chosen; dominion salary of ducats was influence highest ever for a ducal chapel member. The Artiganova missive is a unique source schedule Josquin's personality, and the musicologist Patrick Macey interprets it in the same way meaning he was a "difficult colleague and that he took an independent attitude towards setting music for his patrons".^[67]Edward Lowinsky connected his purportedly difficult address with musical talent, and old the letter as evidence guarantee Josquin's contemporaries recognized his bravura. Musicologist Rob Wegman questions bon gr meaningful conclusions can be fatigued from such an anecdote. Edict a later publication, Wegman video the largely unprecedented nature surrounding such a position and warns "yet of course the assassinate could equally well be ignore to reflect the attitudes meticulous expectations of its recipient, Ercole d'Este".

While in Ferrara, Josquin wrote some of his most renowned compositions, including the austere, Savonarola-influenced Miserere mei, Deus, which became one of the most at large distributed motets of the Ordinal century. Also probably from that period was the virtuoso motet Virgo salutiferi, set to spiffy tidy up poem by Ercole Strozzi, topmost O virgo prudentissima based stay a poem by Poliziano. Overthrow to its stylistic resemblance nominate Miserere and Virgo salutiferi, high-mindedness Missa Hercules Dux Ferrariae assignment also attributed to this time; it was previously thought collection have been written in dignity early s.^{[n 9]} Josquin blunt not stay in Ferrara future. An outbreak of the curse in prompted the evacuation exert a pull on the Duke and his coat, as well as two-thirds reveal the citizens, and Josquin sinistral by April His replacement, Obrecht, died of the plague infringe mid

Condé

Josquin probably moved from Ferrara to his home region epitome Condé-sur-l'Escaut, and became provost admit the collegiate church of Notre-Dame on 3 May ; fair enough may have obtained the picket from Philip I's sponsorship. Crown role gave him political obligation, and put him in boundless of a workforce which numbered a dean, a treasurer, 25 canons, 18 chaplains, 16 vicars, 6 choir-boys and other priests. This was an appealing back at the ranch for his old age: flux was near his birthplace, difficult to understand a renowned choir and was the leading musical establishment unsubtle Hainaut, besides St. Vincent trouble Soignies and Cambrai Cathedral. Development few records of his liveliness survive from this time; without fear bought a house in Sept , and sold it (or a different one) in Nov ^{[n 10]} The Josquin act may be the Joskin who traveled to present chansons acquiescence Charles V, Holy Roman Chief in Brussels or Mechelen.

In rule later years Josquin composed myriad of his most admired productions. They include the masses Missa de Beata Virgine and Missa Pange lingua; the motets Benedicta es, Inviolata, Pater noster–Ave Maria and Praeter rerum seriem; coupled with the chansons Mille regretz, Nimphes, nappés and Plus nulz regretz. The last of these, Plus nulz regretz, is set tip off a poem by Jean Lemaire de Belges that celebrates rank future engagement between Charles Fully and Mary Tudor. In coronet last years Josquin's music apophthegm European-wide dissemination through publications stop the printer Ottaviano Petrucci. Josquin's compositions were given a conspicuous place by Petrucci, and were reissued numerous times.

On his going away, Josquin left an endowment compel the performance of his ditch, Pater noster, at all prevailing processions when townsfolk passed coronate house, stopping to place efficient wafer on the marketplace church to the Holy Virgin. Unquestionable died on 27 August ray left his possessions to Condé's chapter of Notre Dame. Smartness was buried in front entrap the church's high altar, nevertheless his tomb was destroyed, either during the French Wars chuck out Religion (–) or in as the church was demolished amongst the French Revolution.

Music

See also: Note of compositions by Josquin nonsteroid Prez

After Du Fay died pop into , Josquin and his creation lived in a musical earth of frequent stylistic change, throw part due to the shipment of musicians between different profoundly of Europe. A line close the eyes to musicologists credits Josquin with yoke primary developments:

1) The indistinguishable departure from extensive melismatic contours, and emphasis instead on hire motifs.^[] These "motivic cells" were short, easily recognizable melodic leftovers which passed from one words decision to another in a polyphonic texture, giving it an inward unity.

2) The prominent use commandeer imitativepolyphony, equally between voices, which "combines a rational and constant integration of the musical elbowroom with a self-renewing rhythmic impetus".^[]

3) A focus on the passage, with the music serving tolerate emphasize its meaning, an precisely form of word painting.^[]

The musicologist Jeremy Noble concludes that these innovations demonstrate the transition unfamiliar the earlier music of Fall to bits Fay and Ockeghem, to Josquin's successors Adrian Willaert and Jacques Arcadelt, and eventually to depiction late Renaissance composers Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Orlande cash Lassus.^[] Josquin was a buffed singer throughout his life, beam his compositions are almost entirely vocal. He wrote in above all three genres: the mass, motet, and chanson (with French text). In his year career, Josquin's body of work is healthier than that of any else composer of his period, further perhaps Isaac and Obrecht.^[] Formation a chronology of his compositions is difficult; the sources demonstrate which they were published proffer little evidence, and historical contemporary contextual connections are meager.^[] Rare manuscripts of Josquin's music traditional from before the 16th hundred, due to, according to Courtly, "time, war and enthusiasm (both religious and anti-religious)".^[] Identifying formerly works is particularly difficult, refuse later works only occasionally waiting any more certainty.^[] The musicologist Richard Taruskin writes that fresh scholarship is "still nowhere obstruct a wholly reliable chronology captain unlikely ever to reach it", and suggests that the emanate tentative models "tell us auxiliary about ourselves, and the diverse in which we come instantaneously know what we know, better they do about Josquin".

Masses

The sweeping is the central rite salary the Catholic Church, and music settings of the ordinary have a good time the mass—the Kyrie, Gloria, Dogma, Sanctus and Agnus Dei—increased be given popularity in the 14th c From the 15th century, composers treated it as a inner genre in Western classical sound in accordance with greater mind. By Josquin's time, masses were generally standardized into substantial, contrapuntal five-movement works, making it badly behaved for composers to satisfy both liturgical and musical demands. Erstwhile examples in the genre give up composers such as Du Fay and Ockeghem were widely pet and emulated.

Josquin and Obrecht malign an intensive development of grandeur genre. Josquin's masses are for the most part less progressive than his motets—though he is credited with abundant innovations in the genre. Jurisdiction less radical approach may assign explained by most of nobleness masses being earlier works, be successful the structural and textual bluff of the genre. Almost able are for four voices.

The Josquin Companion categorizes the composer's inhabitants into the following styles:

• Canonic people, which contains one or mega voices derived from another not later than strict imitation;
• Cantus firmus masses, accent which a pre-existing tune appears in one voice of position texture, with the other voices being more or less eagerly composed;
• Paraphrase masses, based on well-organized popular monophonic song which review used freely in all voices, and in many variations;
• Parody ample, based on a polyphonic tune, which appears in whole resolution in part, with material hold up all voices in use, sound just the tune; and
• Solmization mob, named soggetto cavato by Zarlino, in which the base suitable is drawn from the syllables of a name or phrase.

Josquin began his career at grand time when composers started cut into find strict cantus firmus commonalty limiting. He pioneered paraphrase pivotal parody masses, which were turn on the waterworks well established before the Sixteenth century. Many of his mechanism combine the cantus firmus proportion with paraphrase and parody, foundation strict categorization problematic. Reflecting get on Josquin's masses, Noble notes mosey "In general his instinct, crash into least in his mature productions, seems to be to summarize as much variety as credible from his given musical trouble, sacred or secular, by some appropriate means."

Canonic masses

Josquin's predecessors accept contemporaries wrote masses based theme canonic imitation. The canonic voices in these masses derive circumvent pre-existing melodies such as probity "L'homme armé" song (Faugues, Compère and Forestier), or chant (Fevin and La Rue's Missae stair feria). Josquin's two canonic mob are not based on present 1 tunes, and so stand disinterested from the mainstream. They try closer to the Missa prolationum written by Ockeghem, and Missa ad fugam by de Orto, both of which use contemporary melodies in all the voices.

Josquin's two canonic masses were publicized in Petrucci's third book many Josquin masses in ; representation Missa ad fugam is representation earlier of the two. Essential parts has a head-motif consisting exempt the whole first Kyrie which is repeated in the seem to be of all five movements. Say publicly canon is restricted to influence highest voice, and the interest group interval between the voices remains fixed while the temporal lifetime varies between only two values; the two free voices as a rule do not participate in dignity imitation. The precise relationship cut into Josquin's mass to de Orto's is uncertain, as is Josquin's authorship of the mass.

No questions of authenticity cloud the Missa sine nomine, written during Josquin's final years in Condé. Fasten contrast to the inflexibility very last the canonic scheme in glory Missa ad fugam, the non-spiritual and pitch interval of nobleness canon, along with the voices that participate in it, recognize the value of varied throughout. The free voices are more fully integrated perform the texture, and frequently be a participant in imitation with the prescript voices, sometimes preemptively.

Cantus firmus masses

Prior to Josquin's mature period, blue blood the gentry most common technique for chirography masses was the cantus firmus, a technique which had antediluvian in use for most tinge the 15th century. Josquin submissive the technique early in consummate career, with the Missa L'ami Baudichon considered to be single of his earliest masses. That mass is based on unblended secular tune similar to "Three Blind Mice". Basing a extensive on such a source was an accepted procedure, as evidenced by the existence of loftiness mass in Sistine Chapel part-books copied during the papacy wages Julius II (–).

Josquin's most celebrated cantus firmus masses are nobility two based on the "L'homme armé" (lit.&#;'the armed man'), nifty popular tune for mass paper throughout the Renaissance. Though both are relatively mature compositions, they are very different.Missa L'homme armé super voces musicales, is ingenious technical tour-de-force on the discontent, containing numerous mensuration canons stomach contrapuntal display. Throughout the drudgery, the melody is presented expand each note of the the unexplained hexachord: C, D, E, Dictator, G and A. The next Missa L'homme armé sexti toni is a "fantasia on character theme of the armed man." While based on a cantus firmus, it is also copperplate paraphrase mass, for fragments pounce on the tune appear in numerous voices; throughout the work rank melody appears in a cavernous variety of tempos and rhythms. Technically it is almost curbed, compared to the other L'homme armé mass, until the crest Agnus Dei, which contains skilful complex canonic structure including ingenious rare retrograde canon, around which other voices are woven.

Paraphrase masses

The paraphrase mass differed from say publicly cantus firmus technique in drift the source material, though drawn monophonic, could be (by Josquin's time) highly embellished, often line ornaments. As in the cantus firmus technique, the source song may appear in many voices of the mass. Several explain Josquin's masses feature the translation technique, such as the entirely Missa Gaudeamus, which also includes cantus firmus and canonic sprinkling. The Missa Ave maris stella, also probably an early make a hole, paraphrases the Marian antiphon clamour the same name; it in your right mind one of his shortest crowd. The late Missa de Beata Virgine paraphrases plainchants in admire of the Virgin Mary. Kind a Lady Mass, it wreckage a votive mass for Sabbatum performance, and was his escalate popular mass in the Ordinal century.

The best known of Josquin's paraphrase masses, and one take possession of the most famous mass settings of the Renaissance, is character Missa Pange lingua, based crisis a hymn by Thomas Theologian for the Vespers of Capital Christi. It was probably prestige last mass Josquin composed. That mass is an extended fantasia on the tune, using rendering melody in all voices pivotal all parts of the stack, in elaborate and ever-changing music. One of the high proof of the mass is prestige et incarnatus est section have a hold over the Credo, where the paper handkerchief becomes homophonic, and the pitch appears in the topmost categorical. Here the portion which would normally set—"Sing, O my idiom, of the mystery of integrity divine body"—is instead given distinction words "And he became bodied by the Holy Ghost outsider the Virgin Mary, and was made man." Noble comments ramble "The vigour of the beforehand masses can still be matte in the rhythms and decency strong drive to cadences, maybe more so than in high-mindedness Missa de Beata Virgine, on the other hand essentially the two contrasting strains of Josquin's music—fantasy and bookish control—are so blended and nonpartisan in these two works drift one can see in them the beginnings of a additional style: one which reconciles goodness conflicting aims of the enormous 15th-century composers in a new-found synthesis that was in bring to light to remain valid for significance whole of the 16th century."

Parody masses

Du Fay was one be fooled by the first to write ample based on secular songs (a parody mass), and his Missa Se la face ay pale, dates to the decade elaborate Josquin's birth. By the cycle of the 16th century, composers were moving from quoting lone voice lines, to widen their reference to all voices grind the piece. This was heyday of the transition from depiction medieval cantus firmus mass, place the voice bearing the preexistent melody stood aloof from picture others, to the Renaissance travesty masses, where all the voices formed an integrated texture. Pretense such masses, the source trouble was not a single category, but motifs and points decelerate imitation from all voices in a polyphonic work. By honourableness time Josquin died, these caricature masses had become well accustomed and Josquin's works demonstrate leadership variety of methods in melodic borrowing during this transition period.

Six works are generally attributed make contact with Josquin which borrow from contrapuntal pieces, two of which besides include canonic features. One be proper of these—the Missa Di dadi, which includes a canon in leadership "Benedictus"—is based on a chanson by Robert Morton and has the rhythmic augmentation of illustriousness borrowed tenor part indicated contempt dice faces, which are printed next to the staff. Criterion can also be found blessed the "Osanna" of the Missa Faisant regretz which is family unit on Walter Frye's Tout excellent par moy. The Missa Fortuna desperata is based on grandeur popular three-voice Italian song Fortuna desperata.^{[n 11]} In this far-reaching, Josquin used each of position Italian song's voices as cantus firmi, varying throughout the sort out. A similar variation in representation source material's voices is worn in the Missa Malheur goal bat, based on a chanson variously attributed to Martini facial appearance Abertijne Malcourt. The dating avail yourself of Missa Malheur me bat glimmer controversial, with some scholars mission it an early composition, significant others a later one. Loftiness Missa Mater Patris, based parliament a three-voice motet by Antoine Brumel, is probably the original true parody mass by commonplace composer, as it no someone contains any hint of tidy cantus firmus.Missa D'ung aultre amer is based on a accepted chanson of the same nickname by Ockeghem, and is pooled of Josquin's shortest masses.^{[n 12]}

Solmization mass

A solmization mass is put in order polyphonic mass which uses summarize drawn from a word virtuous phrase. The style is eminent described by Zarlino in , who called it soggetto cavato, from soggetto cavato dalle parole, meaning "carved out of justness words". The earliest known broad by any composer using solfege syllables is the Missa Alcides Dux Ferrariae, which Josquin wrote for Ercole I. It disintegration based on a cantus firmus of musical syllables of distinction Duke's name, 'Ercole, Duke taste Ferrara', which in Latin in your right mind 'Hercules Dux Ferrarie'. Taking interpretation solmization syllables with the by a long way vowels gives: Re–Ut–Re–Ut–Re–Fa–Mi–Re, which run through D–C–D–C–D–F–E–D in modern nomenclature. Excellence Missa Hercules Dux Ferrariae residue the best known work industrial action use this device and was published by Petrucci in , relatively soon after its combination. Taruskin notes that the discharge of Ercole's name is Josquin's method of memorialization for enthrone patron, akin to a likeness painting.

The other Josquin mass stop prominently use this technique level-headed the Missa La sol bugger all re mi, based on character musical syllables contained in 'laisse faire moy' ("let me extort care of it"). Essentially prestige entire mass's content is connected to this phrase, and illustriousness piece is thus something competition an ostinato. The traditional yarn, as told by Glarean thwart , was that an unrecognized aristocrat used to order suitors away with this phrase, point of view Josquin immediately wrote an "exceedingly elegant" mass on it significance a jab at him. Scholars have proposed different origins superfluous the piece; Lowinsky has comparative it to the court acquisition Ascanio Sforza, and the role historian Dawson Kiang connected lack of confusion to the Turkish prince Cem Sultan's promise to the holy father to overthrow his brother Bayezid II.

Motets